A Profound Mathematical Truth
By L. A. R.
MATHEMATICS is simply the mental process by which man unconsciously shows the fineness, precision, and accuracy of divine mind. Ages ago, the inspired prophet declared of the stars, He "bringeth out their hosts by number." The word "host" suggests a large, overwhelming number. And even before that utterance of the prophet, to Abraham had been revealed the profound truth that the stars are without number as far as man is concerned. How marvelously, by means of mathematics, and of astronomical instruments, notably the fine development of the telescope and the extreme sensitiveness of the modern photographic plate, have men discovered, and exhausted their ability to number, the stars! But beyond the reach of the grandest telescope, beyond the power of the most sensitive photographic plate, we find suggestions of still unnumbered stars. Nevertheless, by faith we grasp the statement that God brings out all this vast host by numbers; that where man, even in his best mathematical thinking, lisps and stutters and hesitates, God thinks as a natural method of His life, not only of all these stars, every one of them, but of every atom that makes up their being, down to the mote that floats in the sunbeams. All are within the scope of His infinite care. We must amend our thought to take in the great fact that even the very hairs of our head are numbered, and not even a sparrow falls to the ground without the notice of Him who brings out the stars by number, who "calleth them all by names by the greatness of His might, for that He is strong in power; not one faileth." And that same One "giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength." The power pledged to the stars, so that "not one faileth," is the same power pledged to us who are seeking to overcome evil in this world. And just as marvelous a promise is given to us,—"They shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint." L. A. R.